Research on prostate cancer biology, detection, and outcomes. Covers genetic clues, DNA damage, diet and survival, and screening awareness.
A genetic variant on chromosome 8q24 is associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer in African Americans. The study found that common genetic variants are linked to elevated prostate cancer risk, particularly among this high-risk population.
A study of over 11,000 men found that those receiving radiation seed implants had a significant reduction in mortality risk compared to those on watchful waiting/active surveillance within six months of diagnosis. Brachytherapy was shown to be as effective as radical prostatectomy and surgery in extending life expectancy.
Men with low-risk prostate cancer who miss two or more radiation treatments in an eight-week course face a higher chance of their cancer recurring. The study of nearly 1,800 patients found that controlling cancer within the prostate and preventing its spread outside makes the greatest difference for these patients.
A large-scale analysis of over 2,000 patients reveals that men with high-risk prostate cancer who receive radiation therapy after a prostatectomy are less likely to experience disease recurrence. Additionally, men whose cancer persists after surgery benefit from reduced cancer spread if they receive salvage therapy.
A large retrospective study found that radiation seed implants (brachytherapy) are equally effective in curing localized prostate cancer in men aged 60 and younger. The study results suggest that younger men should be presented with all viable treatment options, including brachytherapy, regardless of age.
A new study by Fox Chase Cancer Center found that higher doses of radiation therapy for prostate cancer do not lead to decreased sexual function. The research used intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and showed no significant difference in sexual function scores between two treatment groups.
Prostate cancer patients undergoing hormone therapy who walked five times a week maintained or gained bone density, while those who didn't exercise lost more than two percent of their bone density. A nurse-directed home-based walking program improved physical function and managed symptoms during radiation and hormone treatment.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have found that highly targeted radiation therapy can prevent long-term rectal damage in prostate cancer patients. The combination of intensity-modulated radiation and seed marker-based image-guided radiation therapies resulted in nearly 98% of participants having no rectal damage.
Researchers share comprehensive lifestyle advice to avoid prostate cancer, including eating tomatoes and fish, maintaining a healthy weight, and avoiding high-temperature meat cooking. Experts recommend specific dietary modifications to delay or avoid aggressive treatments.
Researchers detected androgen-synthesizing proteins in prostate cancer cells, which may explain why some cancers become resistant to therapies. This discovery offers new directions for research into future treatments that could block the development of androgens in cancer cells.
A study of over 60,000 Danish men found that prostate cancer increases the risk of hip fractures by eight times in men aged 50-65. The researchers discovered that prostate cancer made men 1.8 times more likely to suffer a fracture and 3.7 times as likely to suffer from a hip fracture.
Researchers have discovered new small molecules that can prevent prostate cancer cells from turning off normal genes by blocking the action of a methyl-CpG binding protein. This breakthrough has significant implications for the development of targeted therapies for prostate and other cancers.
A study by Duke University researchers found that African-American men have a slightly higher risk of PSA recurrence after prostate cancer treatment. Despite this, the disease's aggressiveness remains similar across racial groups.
People with a history of allergies have a nearly third lower risk of developing certain brain cancers, such as glioma. Meanwhile, genetic studies identified three locations on human chromosome 8q24 associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer.
A study published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that androgen deprivation therapy used to treat localized prostate cancer increases the risk of death from heart disease. The therapy can lead to metabolic syndrome, which raises the risk of type II diabetes or coronary artery disease.
Researchers questioned the effectiveness of PSA velocity as a prostate cancer screening tool due to inconsistent study results and potential biases. Despite initial hopes that it could reduce unnecessary biopsies, PSA velocity is often used in men with low PSA levels, increasing the number of referrals.
A Swiss study suggests that surgery is the most effective treatment option for long-term prostate cancer survival, particularly among younger patients and those with poorly differentiated tumors. The study found higher 10-year survival rates for men who underwent prostatectomy compared to radiotherapy or watchful waiting.
Men with Gleason score 7 and tertiary grade 5 disease have a shorter time to PSA failure than those with Gleason score 8-10. This finding may affect management of care for men with prostate cancer.
A study by Johns Hopkins researchers found that standard androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer may increase the production of nestin, a protein that promotes cell migration and metastasis. The therapy is effective in slowing tumor growth but may inadvertently encourage cancer cells to spread throughout the body.
The Phase II EPOC study found that ZD4054, an endothelin A receptor antagonist, showed no difference in progression-free survival but reported encouraging overall survival data. The compound may have potential to increase median overall survival time for men with asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic metastatic HRPC.
A study of deceased men found that prostate cancer diagnosis depends more on the biopsied area than sample number, suggesting a new approach to design biopsies. Alternative trial designs and targeting tumor microenvironments may also improve cancer treatment outcomes.
The Phase II study found a 45% reduction in risk of death and improved median overall survival of 24.5 months for patients treated with ZD4054 10mg once-daily compared to placebo.
Current studies show promise in reducing malignancies with 5-alpha reductase inhibitors and dietary fat impact on disease development. Other compounds like soy, selenium, and green tea offer additional possibilities for disease prevention.
A University of Minnesota study found no evidence that prostate cancer is more aggressive in black men, contradicting previous studies. The research matched patients by age, Gleason grade, clinical stage, and PSA levels before prostatectomy.
Researchers reanalyzed data from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial, finding that prostate shrinkage may be responsible for the excess prevalence of high-grade cancer in the drug-treated group. Adjusting for changes in gland size due to finasteride use eliminated all excess high-grade tumors.
A new study suggests that finasteride, a generic drug for enlarged prostates, improves early detection of fast-growing prostate cancers. Finasteride reduces prostate size and cancer risk by 25 percent, making it easier for physicians to detect high-grade tumors early.
Two studies found that finasteride reduces prostate cancer incidence, but increases detection of high-grade cancers. Analysis suggests increased detection rather than development of high-grade cancers. The findings have favorable implications for the clinical impact of finasteride.
A study found that men screened every two years had more detected cancers than those screened every four years, but aggressive cancer detection rates remained the same. The results suggest that more frequent screening may detect smaller, clinically insignificant cancers.
Researchers discovered B7-H3, an immune molecule that predicts prostate cancer progression and recurrence after surgery. The biomarker can help individualize treatment plans for patients.
A comprehensive study found that conventional prognostic factors do not adequately predict survival outcomes in Asian-American men with prostate cancer. Despite worse prognostic profiles, most Asian ethnic groups have better outcomes compared to white men.
Researchers found that gene fusions trigger cancer growth and could impact treatment choices, with some genes regulated by androgen. The discovery may lead to better diagnostics and targeted therapies for prostate cancer.
A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute found that experienced surgeons perform more successful prostate cancer surgeries, with a steeper learning curve. As surgeons gain experience, patient outcomes improve, but beyond 250 operations, additional experience has little influence on cancer recurrence rates.
A recent study found a significant decline in breast cancer incidence in 2003, coinciding with a drop in hormone therapy use. Breast density and sex hormone levels are also independent risk factors for breast cancer in postmenopausal women.
A large study of over 17,000 men found that finasteride caused a small decrease in sexual function, but this effect diminished over time. The researchers concluded that finasteride is unlikely to cause significant sexual dysfunction for most men taking the drug.
Researchers found that simple, low-literacy interventions increased discussions about prostate cancer and led to more men receiving screening tests. These findings suggest that empowering patients through patient interventions can effectively promote discussion of prostate cancer.
The FDA review found no strong association between eating tomatoes and decreased cancer risk, but some limited evidence for associations with prostate, ovarian, gastric, and pancreatic cancers. The agency allowed qualified health claims for these four cancers, citing very limited and preliminary scientific research.
A study found that certain clinician demographics, such as age and specialty, are associated with higher rates of inappropriate PSA screening. Patient education and system-level changes can help reduce this misuse.
Researchers at the University of Southern California have identified a common genetic risk factor for colorectal and prostate cancer. The study found that one variant previously associated with prostate cancer also increases the risk of developing colorectal cancer.
A new drug candidate, abiraterone, has shown significant anti-tumor activity in early trials for patients with advanced prostate cancer whose tumors have continued to grow despite medical or surgical castration. The drug reduced PSA levels and shrunk tumors in both pre- and post-chemotherapy patients.
A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids found to reduce prostate tumor growth and increase survival in genetically predisposed mice. Omega-6 fatty acids had the opposite effects, highlighting a beneficial interaction between genes and diet.
Research suggests that a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids may improve prognosis for men genetically prone to develop prostate cancer. The study found that mice with a genetic defect causing prostate cancer had reduced tumor growth, slowed disease progression and increased survival when fed a high-omega-3 diet.
Researchers at Rutgers and Penn are developing advanced imaging techniques to increase the accuracy of prostate cancer diagnoses. These methods use powerful MRI and computer-aided diagnosis tools to reveal previously hidden cancerous tissue and pinpoint concentrations of suspicious tissue.
A recent review examines the evidence supporting PSA testing for prostate cancer screening. Despite controversy over its effectiveness, many Canadian men are being tested due to widespread practice. The article also discusses finasteride's potential in reducing enlarged prostate risks and cancer risk.
BRCA2 mutation carriers have a higher risk of developing aggressive and lethal prostate cancer, with younger onset and advanced-stage disease, according to a study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. The study suggests that studying gene expression patterns in prostate cancers may help predict progression.
Researchers at Institut Gustave Roussy found that a combination of radiation and angiogenesis inhibitors can overcome HIF-1–dependent tumor radioresistance in mice. This breakthrough suggests a new approach to treating cancer by shifting tumor resistance towards apoptosis, according to the study published online on June 7.
A study from the University of Chicago Medical Center found that African-American men radically underestimate the likelihood of a cancer diagnosis after a needle biopsy for suspected prostate cancer. This underestimation can lead to delayed diagnoses and poorer outcomes.
A trial found that circulating tumor cells in the blood of patients with metastatic prostate cancer can predict how well they will respond to chemotherapy. Patients with more than five tumor cells per blood sample had a worse prognosis, while those whose CTC number went down fared better.
A new study reveals that patients with localized prostate cancer are more likely to receive surgery if they see a urologist, while those who see a radiation oncologist and urologist tend to receive radiation therapy. The study suggests that men should seek a balanced perspective on treatment options from specialists.
A new study developed a simple marker that allows urologists to identify men at risk for high-grade prostate cancer, even after a negative initial biopsy. This finding could reduce overtreatment and unnecessary biopsies while improving patient outcomes.
The OHSU Cancer Institute study found that sipuleucel-T vaccine slowed the rate of rise of serum PSA in exploratory analyses, but did not significantly delay cancer progression. The treatment also showed a favorable safety profile with common side effects like fatigue and chills.
Researchers found that radium-223 significantly reduced levels of bone alkaline phosphatase, a marker for HRPC progression, by 66% and prolonged median survival time by 41 weeks. However, treatment had no significant effect on skeletal-related events.
Researchers have identified C-reactive protein (CRP) as a strong indicator of survival for men with advanced prostate cancer. The study found that higher levels of CRP are associated with shorter survival and lower response to chemotherapy.
A study found that men with a high rate of increase in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels before treatment have a higher risk of death from prostate cancer. Elevated PSA velocity was a stronger predictor of poor prognosis than other single indicators, such as biopsy Gleason scores or advanced disease categories.
Researchers found a strong correlation between initial PSA levels and future diagnosis of advanced disease. Men with high PSA levels had a higher risk of developing advanced disease, emphasizing the importance of early testing.
A recent study has discovered a strong hereditary component to aggressive prostate cancer, with patients carrying the 8q24 genetic marker having a higher risk of developing the disease. The marker is twice as common in African-American men, who also experience the disease at a younger age and have a higher incidence rate.
Researchers found a direct correlation between statin use and decreased prostate-specific antigen levels, as well as lower mortality rates from prostate cancer. The study suggests that increased statin use may be contributing to declining prostate cancer mortality rates in the US between 1993 and 2003.
Researchers have found that veterans exposed to Agent Orange have a 48% higher risk of prostate cancer recurrence following surgery compared to their unexposed peers. Black veterans with a history of exposure were also more likely to experience aggressive disease and rapid PSA level increases.
Researchers found that TRPM8 is expressed in mature, differentiated human prostate primary epithelial luminal cells, but also in prostate cancer cells. The study suggests that inhibiting ER-TRPM8 or PM-TRPM8 may be a potential therapeutic approach for treating prostate cancer. Additionally, the authors propose that blocking aggrecanase...
Researchers found no association between lycopene and prostate cancer prevention, contrary to previous studies. A diet rich in beta-carotene, another antioxidant, was linked to an increased risk of aggressive prostate cancer.
Research suggests that TRPM8 is overexpressed in prostate cancer cells, indicating its potential as a therapeutic target. The study also found that endoplasmic reticulum TRPM8 retains functional activity regardless of cell differentiation status, which may contribute to cancer cell growth.